Participation in institutional events in Lleida and Barcelona

Coinciding with the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration and the 40th anniversary of the first Schengen Agreement, Catalonia International joined the celebration of Europe Day.

Yesterday, 8 May, Catalonia International organized an event in the city of Lleida. The event was attended by the Catalan Minister of European Union and Foreign Action, Jaume Duch; the Mayor of Lleida, Félix Larrosa; the Director of the European Commission's representation in Barcelona, ​​Manuel Szapiro; and the Director-General of Catalonia International, Laura Foraster i Lloret.

The institutional parliaments took place in front of the Enric Granados Auditorium in Lleida, in the presence of a large European flag. All those who spoke reaffirmed the commitment of Catalonia and its citizens to Europeanism and pledged to strengthen the European project as a space of stability and security in the world. They also invited everyone, especially young people, to join efforts for a more united, stronger and autonomous Europe.

Afterwards, students from two local high schools sang together the Ode to Joy, which has been the anthem of the European Union since 1986. This ode was written by the German poet and writer Friedrich Schiller in 1785 to celebrate the ideal of unity and brotherhood of all humanity, and Beethoven later incorporated it into his Ninth Symphony.

European Jazz in Barcelona

Today, on Europe Day, Catalonia International participated in the institutional celebration organized in Barcelona, ​​collaborating with the organization of FemJazz 2025 concert, promoted by EUNIC Barcelona, ​​the network of European cultural institutes present in the city. The concert brought together on stage the artists Lisa Wilhelm (Germany), Elaine Beaumont (France), Ava Alami (Italy), Elisabet Raspall and Clàudia Bosch (Catalonia), and Maite Ruiz de Erentxun (Basque Country), highlighting the diversity and female talent of the European jazz scene. In addition to Catalonia International, the concert has been possible thanks to the collaboration of several pro-European institutions and entities, such as Barcelona City Council, the Government of Catalonia, the Barcelona Provincial Council, the Representation of the European Commission in Barcelona, ​​the European Parliament Office in Barcelona, ​​Catalonia Europe Foundation, the Catalan Council of the European Movement of Barcelona and the Catalan Music High School (ESMUC).